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The North Eastern Banking
Company opens a branch at Birtley in 1904, ten years before amalgamating
with the Bank of Liverpool. In
Martins’ time, Birtley is a Sub Branch to Low Fell, and in March 1968 the
Bank decides to relocate to newer premises at 48 Durham Road. When Martins Bank and Barclays merge in
1969, Birtley is promoted to full branch status at least until Barclays’
1980s reorganisation of its branch structure.
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In
Service: 1904 until 23 march 1968
The parent Branch at Low
Fell is open for a total of one hundred and sixteen years, finally closing
its doors to customers of Barclays in October 2015. Whilst there is still a
branch at Birtley today, it is in an altogether different and much less
attractive building at No 58 Durham Road, having been relocated in
1973. Sadly, we have no images of 37
Durham Road, but you can see the newer 1968 premises by clicking HERE to visit the newer branch.
The advertisement shown
here on the left is a typical example of the many that were placed in
papers throughout the North East of England following Martins Bank’s
extensive programme of building, re-building, re-fitting and re-furbishing
some of its oldest Branches in that particular district of the Bank, many
of course having been inherited from the days of the North Eastern Banking
Company Limited. You can read more about the North Eastern Bank in our
feature THE BANKS THAT BUILT MARTINS.
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